Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-09

The tremendous Cost Of Travei in
Central ATrica-An 100000 Outat.


New York Sun.
The expedition which Mr.. Stanley
is about to lead into Africa is by far the
largest and most ext onsive that ever
set ont on a peaceful mission in the
Dark Continent. Travelling in savage
countries is always very costly. 1t has
been estimated that the average ex-
pense incurred by exploring parties IN
Africa is over fifteen doilarsa mile. 1t
cost the English and Algerian mission
airy societies overs, coo apiece for every
missionary they landed on the shores
ofVictoria Nyanza. Stanley tripacross
the continent is said TO have cost about
SG0.0 DR.. Holub, who ia now
working his way from South Africa
to the Great Lakes, took with him an
outfit that cost S25, 900. The money
expended 10y most important expedi-
tons has varied from $4,000 to SiD,-
O0O. An explorers force of porters
and other native assistants varies from
about forty TO two hundred and fifty
souls. Mr.. SANKEY'S present expedi-
ton will include about one thousand
persons. and his travelling out.it and
trade-goods have cost something over
100000. 1t must be remembered chat
he is not only trying to adequately sup
ply the needs Of his large party, but
that he is also carrying much clothing,
ammunition, and other supplies to the
several hundred persons who are num-
bcred in the little retinue of Emin
Pacha.
In exhibition was given in England
the other day Of the performance OF a
Maxim gun. IT was part of the mill
tary outfit of the Stanley expedition,
and the explorer and many prominent
men watched the performance OF the
weapon with much satisfaction as 1t
poured forth storm of about six hun
dred bullets minute. Here is an ex-
pedition that is bound on a mission OF
humanity and wishes ill 10 no man. 1t
unfortunately happens, however, thatat
no time since Burton and Spoke pene-
trated to the Great Lakes in 1898 have
times been so troublous in Central
AZ. lea as they are now. In Uganda
and the region around it, where Stan
ley said eleven years ago he that ira
yelled as securely as in Europe, the
powerful despot Mwanga has within
the past two years killed many thou
sands of people. 1t is said that in one
campaign last year he killed 10000
soldiers of his northern neighbOr, the
King of Unyoro. He is the ayowed
enemy of the whites, one Of whom he
has murdered, two he has enslaved, and
the others who were in his power he has
expelled from his country.
If Stanley is not able by peaccable
means to open the road to Wadclal; ii
he cannot buy the favor Of the ruler of
Uganda he must defend the lives of his
party. and by force, if needs be, fulfil
the mission he is sent to perform. 1t
is right that he be supplied withithe
best appliances of military art. 1t IS
believed that the man who has not been
excelled by any African explorer in the
tact and forbearance he has displayed
in his dealings with the natives may be
trusted to use these appliances only if
necessity compels their use. Among
the Europeans who will accompany Mr..
Stanley is one who is specially qualified
to handle the Maxim gun.
One of Mr.. Stanley's servants will
he boy in his teens, who was among
lot of little slaves that the explorer
bought of the Arabs three years ago.
The slaves were starving, and Stanley
bought the boys for q few cotton hand
kerchiefs, and distributed them among
the white stations along the Congo.
These lads are all from the AruwimI-
River region, and speak languages
which none of the white men on the
Congo have yet acquired. If Mr..
Stanley takes the Congo route, as he
desires to do, it is very possible that he
will ascend the Aruwimi river 10 reach
Emin Pacha. If, when he reaches the
Congo, he decides to take this course
it is his intention to collect these boys,
as he goes up the river, and make
them useful to him as interpreters and
peacemakers among their kindred OF
the Aruwimi tribes. 1t was his belief
when he bought their freedom and dis
tributed these boys along the river to
I've educated in the white mans arts,
that 10y so doing he was securing so
many strong and faithful native helpers
for his Congo enterprise. 1t is proba-
bic that he little imagined that the next
time he visited the spot where he freed
them from the shacllles of the Arab
slaye-driver, these boys, who have all
been doing well, would be able to rem
dor him services Of almost incalculable